ST. JOSEPH, Minn. -- The College of Saint Benedict hockey team (5-2-2, 3-0-1 MIAC)), which has gone 5-0-1 over the past six games, will face Bethel University (3-2-1, 2-2-0 MIAC) in MIAC play in a home-away series on Dec. 6-7. The Bennies host the Royals at Ritsche Arena at 7 p.m., on Dec. 6 and then travel to St Paul to face Bethel at 6 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 7.

CSB, directed by third year head coach Lindsay Macy, has started the season with a 3-0-1 MIAC play record and a 5-2-2 overall record. As a result, CSB is tied (Hamline) for third in the MIAC standings with nine hockey points, just three from conference leaders Augsburg and Gustavus, both with 4-0 records.

St. Benedict opened the season with a loss to No. 1 and defending national DIII champion UW-River Falls (1-0), 8-2 in River Falls, Wis. Then CSB took a 5-4 road loss to UW-Superior on Nov. 5 as first-year Camryn Hargreaves had two goals. On Nov. 12, the Bennies and UW-Superior played to a 2-2 tie (Yellowjackets had a 2-0 advantage in the shootout for the point). On Nov. 15-16, the Bennies rebounded by winning a 2-1 overtime decision at St. Scholastica and then scoring a season-high five goals in a 5-0 win against the Saints a night later. The Bennies defeated St. Olaf, 2-1 in overtime on the road on Nov. 22 and had a 2-2 draw with the Oles at home on Nov. 23 in which CSB earned the two conference points with a 1-0 verdict in the overtime shootout (Ella Tuccitto goal).

Prior to Thanksgiving (Nov. 26-27) the Bennies dominated a two-game nonconference series with Northland where they won 5-0 and 7-0. In the victories, goalies Delaney Norman and Ellynor Haack recorded shutouts as she has three overall this season. First-year Camryn Hargreaves had three goals and Skylar Salscheider had four assists to lead the way. CSB recorded a season-high seven goals in the second win against Northland, which Salscheider had three assists and Hargreaves scored two goals.

Through nine games, the Bennies have totaled 31 goals and allowed 19. The Bennies have outshot their opponents, 318 to 210. In goal, CSB has 189 saves, with opponents at 281. In power plays, CSB has had a 29% power play rate while their opponents are 10%. CSB has won 285 faceoffs and lost 230 for a 55.3 %-win rate.

Bethel Notes
The Royals, directed by 16-year head coach Brian Carlson, have started their season 3-2-1 overall with a 2-2-0 league mark. The Royals have earned wins against Aurora, St. Kate's, and Hamline. The Royals split series with St. Kate's and Hamline, dropping a 3-0 game vs St. Kate's, and 4-1 against Hamline. Their lone tie was a 2-2 draw with Aurora in their first series of the season. Bethel is led by senior forward Kallie Abrahamson, who has recorded three goals and two assists for five points with 11 shots on net. Also putting up points for the Royals include seniors Brynn Swenson and Emily Wiltse. Swenson has two goals and two assists while Wiltse has a goal and two assists. Senior goalie Anna Hanson has 1.97 goals against average and .918 save percentage.

Series Notes
When CSB meets Bethel on Friday evening, the teams will play for the 51st time. CSB has an overall record of 17-27-6 against Bethel, including a 6-16-3 home record. In their last meeting on Dec. 2, 2023, the Bennies lost, 3-2, in St. Cloud.
 
Inside Look at the Bennies
Sophomore forward Shae Stinnett leads CSB with eight points, including four goals (7^th, MIAC) and four assists. She ranks third in the league with eight points and is 13^th with 0.89 points per game. Salscheider is first in the MIAC with her seven assists and ranks fourth in the league with 0.78 assists per game. Hargreaves has netted six goals and added an assist for seven points with her goals total ranking tied for second in the MIAC. She is fifth in the MIAC with .67 goals per game.

Senior goaltender, Kate Moffat, who was the MIAC Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 18, ranks eighth in the MIAC with a .908 saves percentage with 13 goals allowed and 128 saves in six games. Her goal against average of 2.51 is eighth in the MIAC. She is seventh with 21.33 saves per game.

Senior forward Ava Stinnett, who scored a power play goal against UW-River Falls, has played in 76 career games, scoring 26 goals, and recording 24 assists, with 226 shots on goal.

Senior forward Aurora Opsahl has two goals and three assists this season with five points and 31 shots. With 32 goals, she ranks tied for sixth all-time at CSB with Kelly Wegwerth, 1998-99; Brigette Miller, 2014-18; and Erin Baldwin, 2003-07.  She has totaled 61 points, which also places her seventh all-time at CSB with Brigette Miller (2014-18). Opsahl is coming off seasons of 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points in 2022-23 and 13 goals and seven assists in 2023-24. She also has 268 career shots and eight game-winning goals, which places her tied with Susan Engel (2001-05) for the career lead.

When Jenna Timm recorded her 32nd assist against St. Olaf, she moved into seventh all-time for assists. To move up to sixth all-time (Elli Marvin, 2013-17), she needs three more assists. Timm, who has 12 career goals, has three assists this season.